Joint supplements for dogs?
07-15-2011, 05:56 PM
#11
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: middle America
Posts: 2,849
If the vet is not 100% sure the ACL is torn, you might want to ask him about trying these injections 1X a week first. The name of the medication in the injection is ADEQUAN. It has worked for our Weimaraner more than once. The 1st time he had about 5 shots, the 2nd time I think it was 4. The last time he hurt his knee, he just had 1 & felt better.
He runs hard & stops fast & this is how he injures it every time.
He also takes TRAMADOL 50 mg 2 pills every 12 hours for the pain when he's hurting. He weights 78 lbs.
He runs hard & stops fast & this is how he injures it every time.
He also takes TRAMADOL 50 mg 2 pills every 12 hours for the pain when he's hurting. He weights 78 lbs.
07-15-2011, 06:10 PM
#12
Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 173
Originally Posted by DogHouseMom
The ACL is not a "joint" - it's a ligament. While there is no harm - and indeed a lot of good - in giving joint supplements, it will not fix or even help the ACL.
ACL's will not fix themselves, and yes the surgery can be expensive and a proper recovery requires weeks of VERY limited movement (crate rest with only brief respites for SLOW controlled walks for WEEKS).
Strongly suggest that you find an orthopedic surgeon who has successfully performed this surgery. A veterinary college is a good source to find one in your area. I would not just leave it though. Have a good surgeon look at it and give you his best opinion as to if he suspects ACL or not.
And as heartless as it sounds, I don't recommend pain meds either. Pain is the body's way of telling itself "don't DO that!" and dogs are fantastic at reading their bodies. If you give him pain meds he might continue to do the things he's not supposed to. I typically don't medicate my dogs for pain unless I've already taken steps to fix whatever the problem was that caused the pain (ie broken bone is now splinted).
I know lots of dogs that have undergone ACL tears - it's really quite common especially amongst canine athletes (agility in particular). Have had one of my dogs done in fact (successfully). Most that I know of are successful - the KEY is the restricted mobility during the recovery period - DON'T LET THE DOG RUN, JUMP OR CLIMB! Short, slow walks just a few times per day and CRATE REST the rest of time. I would let mine out of his crate to join me on the floor for a cuddle and ear rubs, but he was on a lead so he could not go further than two feet.
Good luck.
ACL's will not fix themselves, and yes the surgery can be expensive and a proper recovery requires weeks of VERY limited movement (crate rest with only brief respites for SLOW controlled walks for WEEKS).
Strongly suggest that you find an orthopedic surgeon who has successfully performed this surgery. A veterinary college is a good source to find one in your area. I would not just leave it though. Have a good surgeon look at it and give you his best opinion as to if he suspects ACL or not.
And as heartless as it sounds, I don't recommend pain meds either. Pain is the body's way of telling itself "don't DO that!" and dogs are fantastic at reading their bodies. If you give him pain meds he might continue to do the things he's not supposed to. I typically don't medicate my dogs for pain unless I've already taken steps to fix whatever the problem was that caused the pain (ie broken bone is now splinted).
I know lots of dogs that have undergone ACL tears - it's really quite common especially amongst canine athletes (agility in particular). Have had one of my dogs done in fact (successfully). Most that I know of are successful - the KEY is the restricted mobility during the recovery period - DON'T LET THE DOG RUN, JUMP OR CLIMB! Short, slow walks just a few times per day and CRATE REST the rest of time. I would let mine out of his crate to join me on the floor for a cuddle and ear rubs, but he was on a lead so he could not go further than two feet.
Good luck.
(mom to 3 labs)
07-15-2011, 06:22 PM
#13
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
Posts: 1,978
When we got our Chocolate Lab many years ago, it was determined that she had bad hips and our vet suggested we put her on Glucosamine/Chondroitin daily. He said that the "human" kind was cheaper and the same as the dog kind which was considerably more expensive. So we kept her on it until she was put to sleep in November. She was 17 years old and seeing her bad hips in X-rays, the new vet couldn't believe she was still going for her walks to the park every day. We had a prescription of Metacam for her which we used only when it seemed she turned her ankle, hip or foot.
07-16-2011, 05:12 AM
#15
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: UK
Posts: 165
One of our miniature schnauzers has hip dysplasia, arthritis and has had torn ligaments in both back legs. Metacam gave her internal bleeding and had to be stopped, we saw two differents vets who wouldn't operate so I was left to find our own relief. I have found the best relief she has is with Wendals liquid devils claw for horses, glucosamine tablets and canine cortaflex, sometimes I add some manuka honey and rosehip capsules. She has been on them 4 or 5 years now and gone from not being to walk and carried to go to the toilet to leading a normal happy doggy life, although we do have to limit how far she can go on walks
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